The Los Angeles Lakers released their injury report for Saturday’s game on the road against the Portland Trail Blazers and Luka Doncic (left groin soreness), Austin Reaves (left calf strain) and Adou Thiero (right MCL sprain) are out while Deandre Ayton (left knee soreness) and Jaxson Hayes (left hamstring tendinopathy) are questionable.
This means the Lakers will be shorthanded once again as they take on the Trail Blazers in the first night of a back-to-back.
Doncic has been dealing with this groin soreness for about a week now but has managed to play through it up until this point. After the Lakers’ recent win over the Atlanta Hawks, however, he admitted that the issue seemed to be getting worse. With that being the case, it makes sense with sit him out in Portland to give him two days in a row off with hopes that he will be back in the lineup in the second end of the back-to-back at home on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors.
Without Doncic in the lineup though, other players will need to step up to beat a scrappy Trail Blazers team on the road. LeBron James will handle primary ball-handling duties but will need some help, which is where guys like Marcus Smart, Gabe Vincent and Kobe Bufkin step in.
The Lakers could also be without both of their centers with Ayton and Hayes being listed as questionable. Hayes’ hamstring injury is not believed to be a serious one as he is expected to return at some point this weekend after missing two games, whether that be against Portland or Toronto.
The hope is that either Ayton or Hayes will be able to suit up, or both, but if not then the Lakers will be leaning on Maxi Kleber, Drew Timme and small-ball lineups.
For a team that comes in losers of four of their last five, the Lakers are desperate to get a win in Portland, a place they have typically struggled over the years. That won’t be an easy task with Doncic, Reaves and others potentially out of the lineup, although the Trail Blazers are expected to be missing some key pieces as well.
Luka Doncic: Lakers told on themselves with effort
The Lakers played one of their best games of the season against the Hawks but then followed it up with a dud against the Charlotte Hornets. After that loss, Doncic admitted the Lakers told on themselves with their lack of effort, which needs to be consistent every night.
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